Pseudovibrio denitrificansstrain Z143-1, a heptylprodigiosin-producing bacterium isolated from a Philippine tunicate

Abstract

Microbial isolate Z143-1 found to be associated with an unidentified tunicate was characterized due to its significant antimicrobial activity. Z143-1 is similar to Pseudovibrio ascidiaceicola and Pseudovibrio denitrificans in morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, except for its ability to ferment glucose and produce a characteristic red pigment. Fatty acid methyl ester analysis revealed a predominance of the fatty acid 18:1 omega7c at 80.55%, at levels slightly lower than the Pseudovibrio denitrificans type strain DN34(T) (87.7%). The mol% G+C of Z143-1 is 54.02, relatively higher than the Pseudovibrio denitrificans type strain DN34(T) and Pseudovibrio ascidiaceicola with mol% G+C of 51.7 and 51.4, respectively. However, phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of Z143-1 showed 100% similarity with the Pseudovibrio denitrificans type strain DN34(T). In this study, the bacterium Z143-1 is reported as a new strain of Pseudovibrio denitrificans. While there is no report of a secondary metabolite for Pseudovibrio denitrificans, Z143-1 produces the red pigment heptylprodigiosin, also known as 16-methyl-15-heptyl-prodiginine, which shows anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity.

Identification of the Antibacterial Compound Produced by the Marine Epiphytic Bacterium Pseudovibrio sp. D323 and Related Sponge-Associated Bacteria

“…In contrast to P. ascidiaceicola , which grows as smooth brown-green colonies, isolate D323 form flat brown mucoid colonies when grown on Marine Agar (Difco 2216) and resembles that of isolate MBIC3368 and related sponge-associated bacteria, to which it has 98% identity in the 16S rRNA gene sequence [8–10] (Figure 1). Antimicrobial production was reported for another Pseudovibrio related to P. denitrificans , strain Z143-1; the compound was identified as heptylprodigiosin [11]. Moreover, the colony morphology of that strain, which was reported to form red colonies while producing the bioactive compound, differed significantly from the above-mentioned colony morphology of isolate D323 and MBIC3368 related bacteria [8–10].…”

Isolation of an antimicrobial compound produced by bacteria associated with reef-building corals

“…To date, three active compounds have been isolated from different Pseudovibrio strains: heptylprodigiocin in tunicate-associated P. denitrificans Z143-1 (Sertan-de Guzman et al, 2007), pseudovibrocin in P. denitrificans strain PaH3.28 (Vizcaino, 2011) and TDA from red alga-associated P. ascidiaceicola D323 (Penesyan et al, 2011). In the present study, we isolated TDA from P12, a strain closely related to P. denitrificans .…”

Diversity and antimicrobial potential of culturable heterotrophic bacteria associated with the endemic marine spongeArenosclera brasiliensis

“…Pseudovibrio isolates originated from marine invertebrates such as tunicates (Sertan-de Guzman et al, 2007; Riesenfeld, Murray & Baker, 2008), corals (Rypien, Ward & Azam, 2010) and sponges showed antimicrobial activity (Santos et al, 2010; O’ Halloran et al, 2011). Pseudovibrio isolates from corals have antagonist effect against V. coralliilyticus (Rypien, Ward & Azam, 2010).…”